10cm is known as the most famous indie duo in Korea. Jeong Youl Kwon(left) sings most of the song and plays jembe, while Chul Jong Yoon(right) sings the harmony and plays guitar. The band name "10cm" simply means that Yoon is 10cm taller than Kwon.
Yoon and Kwon knew each other since high school. Both of them were smart that they got into Yonsei University which is one of the top 3 universities in Korea. However, both of them realized that music was their way.
At first, 10cm debuted in 2009 as an indie duo and performed around Hongdae where lots of indie bands are found. Then, the first album(EP) was released on April, 2010. Because 10cm had no money, all of the music were recorded at home. This home-made album was quite successful because lots of indie fans started to notice this new band. Few months later, 10cm released their first single album, 'Americano'. The only song in this album, Americano, was a great hit because of its humorous lyrics and addicting melody.
In 2011, 10cm released their first official album '1.0'. This album was a much bigger hit than the previous single album. Now, lots of people, despite of their age or sex, recognize 10cm and their music.
(2) Music
There are lots of indie groups that play acoustic melodies with guitar. Then, what is so special about 10cm?
10cm introduces themselves as a smart and romantic Manhattan-style acoustic band. Although their music somewhat resembles the style of Jason Mraz, 10cm has their own characteristics, especially in the lyrics. 10cm does not like typical lyrics talking about love, because all k-pop singers already sing those lyrics.
For example, one of their song '죽겠네' talks about how much the man loves his girlfriend. Unlike other love songs, the lyrics points out all the dirty or unpleasant moments about his girlfriend such as when her stalkings had a huge whole, when she did not take a shower, or when some of the foods were stuck in her teeth. Then, the lyrics tells although his girlfriend is not perfect, he loves her so much. These humorous lyrics are found in every other songs, too.
'Hey Billy' is one of the songs that 10cm put some sexual jokes. The speaker of the lyrics is a small boy. He asks his father(Billy) about what he is doing every night with Jane(the boy's mother) and Billy answers that they are making his younger brother. Then the next day, the boy comes into the bedroom and says "Hey Billy, let's make my brother together!". Because the lyrics is written in the small boy's perspective, this song is very cute despite of its quite sexual lyrics.
In addition, 10cm uses certain instruments to express their music styles. Rather than having a whole band playing for them, each member plays jembe and guitar, which are enough for them to perform their music. Sometimes, 10cm has guest players to make their music sound better. For example, '사랑은 은하수 다방에서(Love at Cafe Galaxy)' was performed with a melodion. Because this is a lovely song, the sound of the melodion fits the lyrics perfectly.
(3) Recommended Music
- 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요(I'm Scared of Dark Tonight)
: The lyrics talks about how the man wants his girlfriend to stay together with him tonight. Lots of people love this song because the lyrics is pretty cute and lovely.
- Healing
: Unlike other popular songs of 10cm, 'Healing' has darker atmosphere. Yoon's voice is very appealing and attractive in this music.
(4) Popularity
Indie bands are not very famous because they usually perform on streets or in cafes and clubs. However, 10cm performed a lot on TV and now they are even on the most popular TV show, 무한도전(Infinite Challenge). Members of 무한도전 had to find partners to perform a music and 10cm was chosen as one of those partners. After the show was broadcasted, 10cm's music were highly ranked in music-download websites. Moreover, 10cm is now on TV commercial, singing 'Americano'. In addition to these TV activities, almost 20,000 of their album '1.0' were sold which is the highest record among Korean indie albums.
Nowadays, 10cm is introducing indie musics into the popular culture. Because of them, lots of people started to get interested in indie musics. Popularity of 10cm is beneficial for themselves, but also the other indie musicians. Starting from 10cm, other indie bands will be praised by the general audiences, too.
10cm is known as the most famous indie duo in Korea. Jeong Youl Kwon(left) sings most of the song and plays jembe, while Chul Jong Yoon(right) sings the harmony and plays guitar. The band name "10cm" simply means that Yoon is 10cm taller than Kwon.
Yoon and Kwon knew each other since high school. Both of them were smart that they got into Yonsei University which is one of the top 3 universities in Korea. However, both of them realized that music was their way.
At first, 10cm debuted in 2009 as an indie duo and performed around Hongdae where lots of indie bands are found. Then, the first album(EP) was released on April, 2010. Because 10cm had no money, all of the music were recorded at home. This home-made album was quite successful because lots of indie fans started to notice this new band. Few months later, 10cm released their first single album, 'Americano'. The only song in this album, Americano, was a great hit because of its humorous lyrics and addicting melody.
In 2011, 10cm released their first official album '1.0'. This album was a much bigger hit than the previous single album. Now, lots of people, despite of their age or sex, recognize 10cm and their music.
(2) Music
There are lots of indie groups that play acoustic melodies with guitar. Then, what is so special about 10cm?
10cm introduces themselves as a smart and romantic Manhattan-style acoustic band. Although their music somewhat resembles the style of Jason Mraz, 10cm has their own characteristics, especially in the lyrics. 10cm does not like typical lyrics talking about love, because all k-pop singers already sing those lyrics.
For example, one of their song '죽겠네' talks about how much the man loves his girlfriend. Unlike other love songs, the lyrics points out all the dirty or unpleasant moments about his girlfriend such as when her stalkings had a huge whole, when she did not take a shower, or when some of the foods were stuck in her teeth. Then, the lyrics tells although his girlfriend is not perfect, he loves her so much. These humorous lyrics are found in every other songs, too.
'Hey Billy' is one of the songs that 10cm put some sexual jokes. The speaker of the lyrics is a small boy. He asks his father(Billy) about what he is doing every night with Jane(the boy's mother) and Billy answers that they are making his younger brother. Then the next day, the boy comes into the bedroom and says "Hey Billy, let's make my brother together!". Because the lyrics is written in the small boy's perspective, this song is very cute despite of its quite sexual lyrics.
In addition, 10cm uses certain instruments to express their music styles. Rather than having a whole band playing for them, each member plays jembe and guitar, which are enough for them to perform their music. Sometimes, 10cm has guest players to make their music sound better. For example, '사랑은 은하수 다방에서(Love at Cafe Galaxy)' was performed with a melodion. Because this is a lovely song, the sound of the melodion fits the lyrics perfectly.
(3) Recommended Music
- 오늘밤은 어둠이 무서워요(I'm Scared of Dark Tonight)
: The lyrics talks about how the man wants his girlfriend to stay together with him tonight. Lots of people love this song because the lyrics is pretty cute and lovely.
- Healing
: Unlike other popular songs of 10cm, 'Healing' has darker atmosphere. Yoon's voice is very appealing and attractive in this music.
(4) Popularity
Indie bands are not very famous because they usually perform on streets or in cafes and clubs. However, 10cm performed a lot on TV and now they are even on the most popular TV show, 무한도전(Infinite Challenge). Members of 무한도전 had to find partners to perform a music and 10cm was chosen as one of those partners. After the show was broadcasted, 10cm's music were highly ranked in music-download websites. Moreover, 10cm is now on TV commercial, singing 'Americano'. In addition to these TV activities, almost 20,000 of their album '1.0' were sold which is the highest record among Korean indie albums.
Nowadays, 10cm is introducing indie musics into the popular culture. Because of them, lots of people started to get interested in indie musics. Popularity of 10cm is beneficial for themselves, but also the other indie musicians. Starting from 10cm, other indie bands will be praised by the general audiences, too.